Computer aided design model analysis system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing models. Elements in a model of an object are identified. Dependencies for the elements are identified. At least one of a matrix of the elements and a knowledge model of the object using the elements are generated.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for managing a computer aided design model of an object, the method comprising:
 a processor identifying elements in the computer aided design model; 
 identifying, by the processor, dependencies in the computer aided design model between the elements; 
 generating, by the processor, a matrix of the dependencies, wherein rows and columns of the matrix are the elements, and wherein values in the matrix represent a strength of the dependencies between the elements; 
 using the values in the matrix to identify a number of extraneous elements in the computer aided design model, wherein extraneous elements are defined as having no dependencies leading back to the object; 
 removing the number of extraneous elements in the computer aided design model based on their lack of dependencies to form a modified computer aided design model; 
 using the computer aided design model to identify a number of redundant portions of the elements in the computer aided design model, wherein each redundant portion is a first portion of a first element in the computer aided design model that is identical to a second portion of a second element in the computer aided design model; and 
 consolidating the number of redundant portions identified by modifying at least one of the redundant portions to form the modified computer aided design model; 
 identifying in the elements a set of clusters, wherein clusters in the set of clusters correspond to assemblies of the elements; 
 generating, by the processor, a knowledge model for the object based in part on the values in the matrix, wherein the knowledge model is stored in a knowledge database in a universal format that includes the elements and clusters corresponding to assemblies of the elements, which functions as a source to create, for a particular assembly, computer aided design models for a number of formats; 
 identifying a design process flow for the knowledge model from the matrix, the design process flow identifying an order in which the elements of the computer aided design model were added to the computer aided design model; 
 creating, by the processor, a new computer aided design model of the object using the modified computer aided design model, the matrix and the design process flow; and 
 creating a physical component based on the new computer aided design model of the object; 
 wherein the elements are geometric elements chosen from a group consisting of a solid, a surface, a plane, a point, a curve, a vertex, an edge, and a face; and 
 wherein the elements of the new computer aided design model are ordered in the rows and columns of the matrix in the order identified by the design process flow such that an element in the elements that was most recently added to the computer aided design model is in a row at a top of the matrix. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing an analysis using the matrix, wherein the analysis identifies at least one of the dependencies between the elements, a design process for the computer aided design model, the number of extraneous elements, and redundant elements. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer aided design model is in a first format configured for use with a first type of computer aided design system and further comprising:
 identifying a second type of computer aided design system; 
 wherein the new computer aided design model is in a second format configured for use with the second type of computer aided design system; 
 identifying a design process flow for the knowledge model from the matrix, the design process flow identifying an order in which the elements of the computer aided design model were added to the computer aided design model; 
 identifying ones of the elements that are needed for the new computer aided design model; and 
 adding the ones of the elements identified to the new computer aided design model in the order identified by the design process flow. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix is a design structure matrix. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a desired system, wherein the new computer aided design model is created from the knowledge model and is configured for use with the desired system. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 using, by the processor, the values in the matrix to identify a clustering of the elements; 
 creating, by the processor, the design process flow for the object based in part on the clustering of the elements; and 
 wherein the step of generating, by the processor, the knowledge model for the object includes using the design process flow. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the desired system is selected from one of a computer aided design system, an analysis system, and a finite element analysis system. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dependencies represent a parent-child relationship or an input-out relationship between the elements. 
     
     
       9. A model management system comprising:
 a processor configured to implement a model manager, the model manager configured to:
 identify elements in a computer aided design model of an object; 
 identify dependencies in the computer aided design model between the elements; 
 generate a matrix of the dependencies, wherein rows and columns of the matrix are the elements and values in the matrix represent a strength of the dependencies between the elements; 
 use the values in the matrix to identify a number of extraneous elements in the computer aided design model, wherein extraneous elements are defined as having no dependencies leading back to the object; 
 remove the number of extraneous elements in the computer aided design model based on their lack of dependencies to form a modified computer aided design model; 
 identify a number of redundant portions of the elements in the computer aided design model, wherein each redundant portion is a first portion of a first element in the computer aided design model that is identical to a second portion of a second element in the computer aided design model; and 
 consolidate the number of redundant portions by modifying at least one of the redundant portions identified to form the modified computer aided design model; 
 identify in the elements a set of clusters, wherein clusters in the set of clusters correspond to assemblies of the elements; 
 generate a knowledge model for the object based in part on the values in the matrix, wherein the knowledge model is stored in a knowledge database in a universal format that includes the elements and clusters corresponding to assemblies of the elements, which functions as a source to create, for a particular assembly, computer aided design models for a number of formats; 
 identify a design process flow for the knowledge model from the matrix, the design process flow identifying an order in which the elements of the computer aided design model were added to the computer aided design model; 
 create a new computer aided design model of the object using the modified computer aided design model, the matrix and the design process flow; and 
 create a physical component based on the new computer aided design model of the object; 
 
 wherein the elements are geometric elements chosen from a group comprising a solid, a surface, a plane, a point, a curve, a vertex, an edge, and a face; and 
 wherein the elements of the new computer aided design model are ordered in the rows and columns of the matrix in the order identified by the design process flow such that an element in the elements that was most recently added to the computer aided design model is in a row at a top of the matrix. 
 
     
     
       10. The model management system of  claim 9 , wherein the model manager is further configured to perform an analysis using the matrix, wherein the analysis identifies at least one of the dependencies between the elements, a design process for the computer aided design model, the number of extraneous elements, and redundant elements. 
     
     
       11. The model management system of  claim 9 , wherein the computer aided design model is in a first format configured for use with a first type of computer aided design system and wherein the model manager is further configured to:
 identify a second type of computer aided design system; 
 wherein the new computer aided design model is in a second format configured for use with the second type of computer aided design system; 
 identify ones of the elements that are needed for the new computer aided design model; and 
 add the ones of the elements identified to the new computer aided design model in the order identified by the design process flow. 
 
     
     
       12. The model management system of  claim 9 , wherein the model manager is further configured to identify a desired system and create the new computer aided design model of the object from the knowledge model, wherein the new computer aided design model is configured for use with the desired system. 
     
     
       13. The model management system of  claim 12 , wherein the model manager is further configured to:
 use the values in the matrix to identify a clustering of the elements; 
 create the design process flow for the object based in part on the clustering of the elements; and 
 wherein in being configured to generate the knowledge model of the object, the model manager is further configured to create the knowledge model using the design process flow. 
 
     
     
       14. The model management system of  claim 12 , wherein the desired system is selected from one of a computer aided design system, an analysis system, and a finite element analysis system. 
     
     
       15. A method for managing a computer aided design model of an object, comprising:
 identifying, by a processor, elements in the computer aided design model, wherein the elements comprise geometric components of the computer aided design model of the object; 
 identifying, by the processor, dependencies in the computer aided design model between the elements; 
 identifying, by the processor, a design process flow that identifies an order in which the elements were added to the computer aided design model; 
 generating, by the processor, a matrix of the dependencies, wherein rows and columns of the matrix are the elements in the order in which the elements were added to the computer aided design model based on the design process flow, wherein values in the matrix represent a strength of the dependencies between the elements, and wherein the dependencies represent a parent-child relationship or an input-out relationship between the elements; 
 using, by the processor, the values in the matrix to identify a cluster of the elements; 
 creating, by the processor, the design process flow for the object based in part on the cluster of the elements; 
 using the values in the matrix to identity a number of extraneous elements in the computer aided design model, wherein extraneous elements are defined as having no dependencies leading back to the object; 
 removing the number of extraneous elements in the computer aided design model based on their lack of dependencies to form a modified computer aided design model; 
 using the computer aided design model to identify a number of redundant portions of the elements in the computer aided design model, wherein each redundant portion is a first portion of a first element in the computer aided design model that is identical to a second portion of a second element in the computer aided design model; and 
 consolidating the number of redundant portions identified by modifying at least one of the redundant portions to form the modified computer aided design model; 
 creating, by the processor, a new computer aided design model of the object using the modified computer aided design model, the matrix and the design process flow; and 
 creating a physical component based on the new computer aided design model of the object, wherein the elements of the new computer aided design model are ordered in the rows and columns of the matrix in the order identified by the design process flow such that an element in the elements that was most recently added to the computer aided design model is in a row at a top of the matrix.